Search form

Veterans growing careers in agriculture

In the last decade, almost a million of our military’s servicemen and servicewomen have come from rural communities. As they return home, they bring along an opportunity to employ their passion, discipline, and sense of service to revitalize America’s small farms, ranches and rural communities.

That’s why the Center for Rural Affairs along with partnering organizations will host a Farm Training Webinar on Friday, November 16th. The webinar will include several virtual farm tours and other information for U.S military veterans interested in taking up a career in a rural community and starting their own farms or ranches. The web-based training will allow people to participate wherever they are, including those deployed overseas.

“America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities are aging, and not enough new farmers and ranchers are getting started,” said Wyatt Fraas with the Center for Rural Affairs. “By returning to their farming and ranching roots, veterans can carry on the proud tradition of America’s family farms and ranches.”

Fraas further explained that while some veterans return home to jobs, many are returning to rural areas where jobs can be scarce. The Center for Rural Affairs’ Veteran Farmers Project provides veterans with the knowledge to become successful farmers and ranchers. By creating sound farm and ranch businesses that tap into high value markets, returning veterans can reintegrate gracefully and fruitfully into America’s rural communities.

“It’s important to thank veterans for their service. And helping returning vets transition from the military back into the workforce and into their post-military careers is equally important,” concluded Fraas.

The free-of-charge webinar features video farm tours and discussion with several farmers and ranchers: Evrett Lunquist and Ruth Chantry of Common Good Farm will describe direct marketing of produce and livestock products; and veteran Garrett Dwyer will explain his cattle operation. The 90 minute program will also focus on financing and land access options, disability assistance, Farm Service Agency loan programs, and other resources for veterans.

“It can be difficult to get started in the world of agriculture,” said Dwyer, a beginning rancher and former Marine infantryman from Bartlett, NE. “Skyrocketing costs of buying or renting land make entry into farming and ranching a daunting task.”

According to Dwyer, more beginning farmers and ranchers are needed because without a new generation of beginners, the land will concentrate in large farms. “And that will cause the permanent loss of opportunity for family farms, ranches, and rural communities and squander the chance to shift to a more sustainable system of agriculture,” explained Dwyer.